Water Restrictions

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Water Restrictions website provides access to current water restrictions information for the whole of Australia. Water restrictions information can be searched by State or Territory, water agency and restriction name. Water restriction names and rules vary throughout Australia due to local requirements.

Permanent Water Efficiency Measures (PWEMs) were introduced in Western Australia in 2007. These rosters apply to scheme water users (supplied by the Water Corporation) as well as for garden bore users. This includes a roster system across WA and winter sprinkler ban in Perth and surrounding areas from 1 June to 31 August each year. An exemption from the sprinkler roster is available if you are establishing a new lawn or garden or run a community garden.

SCHEME WATER USE (Stage 4)

Towns south of (and including) Kalbarri and Kalgoorlie (Area 2) can use their sprinklers 2 days a week either before 9 am or after 6 pm, based on the last digit of your house number. Where there is no house number, the lot number is to be used.

Watering by hand is permitted anytime (through a hand held hose or watering can). You can also top-up your swimming pool, pond or fountain and wash your car with a hose.

A high pressure water cleaner or a handheld hose can be used to the minimum extent necessary for cleaning of an existing building, building site, demolition site (including vacant land, paths, paved areas or road) to avoid a threat to public health or safety.

Watering a sports ground using sprinklers is only allowed every alternate day before 9am or after 6pm. Watering a synthetic sporting ground is not permitted except for 10 minutes or less before a sport is played or practised on the sporting ground.

DOMESTIC BORE WATER USE (Stage 1)

Using bore water is only permitted every alternate day either before 9 am or after 6 pm based on the last digit of your house number. Where there is no house number, the lot number is to be used.

The Department of Water administers a licensing system for other bore users (including local government, schools, sporting grounds and industry). Licences issued by the Department of Water specify the terms and conditions of using groundwater for uses other than garden bores.

Watering a synthetic sporting ground is not permitted except for 10 minutes or less before a sport is played or practised on the sporting ground.

SCHEME AND DOMESTIC BORE WATER USE DURING WINTER SPRINKLER BAN (Stage 6)

A winter sprinkler ban is in place for scheme and bore water users between 1 June – 31 August each year. Watering by hand is permitted anytime (through a hand held hose or watering can).

A high pressure water cleaner or a handheld hose can be used to the minimum extent necessary for cleaning of an existing building, building site, demolition site (including vacant land, paths, paved areas or road) to avoid a threat to public health or safety.

Watering a sports ground using sprinklers is only allowed before 9am or after 6pm, three days per week.

Watering a synthetic sporting ground is not permitted except for 10 minutes or less before a sport is played or practised on the sporting ground.

Using water for topping up swimming pools must only be used if it is to replace water lost from the pool through evaporation or ordinary use and to ensure there is sufficient amount of water for the proper functioning of the pool.